Key aquisitions for each team this off-season:

Toronto: Jeff O'neill, maybe Jason Allison (lost Roberts, Nolan, Niewendyk, and maybe more players)

Ottawa: None.

Montreal: Resigned Kovalev, Mathieu Dandenault

Edmonton: Chris Pronger, Mike Peca,

Calgary: Resigned Jarome Iginla, Darren McCarty

Vancouver: Resigned Naslund.


I don't think Toronto will be winning for a long time now, they're screwed by the new salary cap and have lost many of their old talented players that have been with them for some time now. Toronto needs to get younger and more talented if they want to win again.

I see Calgary and Edomnton being the most improved.

CANUCKS!! well...i don't really watch hockey tooo much...but they're the team in my province and i'm rooting for them.

Ottawa

The Leafs! :hilarious

I'd say Vancouver...
I like them...

The Canadiens...

http://www.uploadhut.com/upload/243079.jpg?65.49.226.146

Calgary

Well.. I would like Toronto or Vancouver to win. It seems to me that Calgary, ever since they ALMOST won the stanley cup, they have been very, "My team is better than yours." Any team could have made it to that spot. Non sportsman like, IMO.

Im not saying this because im bias but Vancouver has the best chance to win. The Canucks have done very well in the past few seasons, winning the division in 2004 and the Canucks would have likely won the Stanley cup that year too if they hadn't lost Cloutier in the first round off the playoffs. I would like to point out that Vancouver was the only team in the conference that played to a game 7 with Calgary.

Vancouvers team is pretty much still the same as it was befor the lock out, with there awsome line up.

Calgary still has a good chance and I like Edmonton.
Toronto wasn't that good befor and they have lost alot of good players, im with Travis007 I doubt the cup will land in Toronto any time soon.

Toronto wasn't that good

They did better than Vancouver last year and you just said the Canucks have done very well the last few seasons.

The leafs war-chest is empty. Damn, we were able to buy ourselves decent teams for a while. This will force us to re-organize everything and start focussing more on developing new talent.

Vancouver's our best shot.

Edmonton will be improved with Pronger and Peca foresure(questionable goaltending though), and vault themselves into a high second tier team, Vancouver and Ottawa will have good regular seasons again, but these two teams lack the fortitude(too soft) needed to carry them into a deep playoff run, I think Toronto is a team on the way down and could and most likely will fall right off the map, Montreal will struggle to make the playoffs..... and the young and determined Calgary Flames will WIN the Stanley Cup this year, a first of at least two and probaly more for this current team in the next 5 years........ GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!

They did better than Vancouver last year and you just said the Canucks have done very well the last few seasons.

In the past few seasons Vancouver has done better than Toronto, in 2004 we won our division and Toronto didn't. The leafs went further in the playoffs only because we had lost our goalie and because of the fact that Calgary turned out to be a really good team and almost won the cup.

http://www.uploadhut.com/upload/243079.jpg?65.49.226.146

very nice logo ...........................^^

In the past few seasons Vancouver has done better than Toronto, in 2004 we won our division and Toronto didn't. The leafs went further in the playoffs only because we had lost our goalie and because of the fact that Calgary turned out to be a really good team and almost won the cup.

Toronto had more points and uh every team bases sucess on the playoffs. Toronto had more points, went farther in the playoffs makes them the better team.

I love the canucks , dont get me wrong but lets face it ... As long as Dip shit Danny is between th pipes were screwed. I dont care for Toronto but I would hope they would win if they were playing any American team . Just thought Id add that .

I'm rooting for Edmonton but it is hard to predict how any team will do this season. All the players have been away from playing hockey at the NHL level for a year therefore all teams have an equal chance of winning the cup.

Vancouver would have gotten past Calgary with Bertuzzi and Cloutier in the line up. Game 7 overtime!!

I think it's time to shut down the NHL and start something new. But this time don't dilute the talent with 3 million expansion teams in tiny US towns that could give a rat's ass about hockey.

Vancouver would have gotten past Calgary with Bertuzzi and Cloutier in the line up. Game 7 overtime!!

Same could be said about Calgary not having Reinprecht, Gautier and Lydman in the lineup. Fact is Calgary had more injuries than the Canucks.

On top of that, Bertuzzi only had 19 goals during that season. Needless to say, Vancouver had Bertuzzi in the lineup other playoff years and didn't do shit. Vancouver was up 3 games to 1 against Minnesota, Bertuzzi opened his mouth by saying Minnesota should just give up, and the Canucks end up shiting the bed like usual.

Hell if Bertuzzi did play, the Flames would have on in 5 or 6, because of all the bonehead penalties Bertuzzi would have done.

Off topic but I think the Canuck's throw-back jersey is one of teh best I've seen.

http://www.icejerseys.com/images/vintage_collection/canucks_big.jpg
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00069DVRO.01-A178FZ04UXI000._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Those are still the best looking 'nucks jerseys

Oh and for teh cup, until the final rosters are set, its hard to say. Edmonton still has some cash left to sign someone so things could change.

I'd put may bets on Calgary, with Vancouver having a good chance as well. Calgary has an increadible team and anyone who watched them in the playoffs last...err two seasons ago, could see just how young and fast this team was. Not too much has changed, so they almost have the same team. I don't think they will win the Cup as it will most likely go to the likes of Philly due to their aggressive acquisitions this season.

As for the Leafs, I love em, but fuck are they stupid. We're going nowhere this year. We do the same mistake we do every year, pick up a bunch of older or has been players and hope for the best. Allison and Lindros were the big talk. They're both Concussion on skates for gods sake. If I were the GM, I would've have dumped half the team, if your over 35, you got to go with a couple exceptions. GEt new young blood, and slowly rebuild. Sure it would mean a yr or two without playoffs, but good for the long run, and more entertaining fast players.

Oh well, Go Leafs and Flames Go!!!

zzzzzzzzzzz.... what? Ottawa (knee-jerk reaction)

Off topic but I think the Canuck's throw-back jersey is one of teh best I've seen.

http://www.icejerseys.com/images/vintage_collection/canucks_big.jpg
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00069DVRO.01-A178FZ04UXI000._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


imo, one of the ugliest jersey in the league... but thats just me. :runaway:

Anyone who says Toronto is on crack. They are in the worst shape out of all the Canadian teams.

i can't wait to watch the CFL on CBC next week! no commentary or any sound due to the CBC lockout! :D

My vote goes to the Flames. Not only do they still have most of the core that nearly did win the Cup in 2004 (and really should have - that goal was in, I tell you :) ), but they've made some aquisitions to improve the team too. We have the best defence in the NHL, one of the top goalies, and the number one player in the league in Jarome Iginla. Calgary has a very good shot at getting back to the Finals this year.

Go Flames!

As for the Leafs, I love em, but fuck are they stupid. We're going nowhere this year. We do the same mistake we do every year, pick up a bunch of older or has been players and hope for the best. Allison and Lindros were the big talk. They're both Concussion on skates for gods sake. If I were the GM, I would've have dumped half the team, if your over 35, you got to go with a couple exceptions. GEt new young blood, and slowly rebuild. Sure it would mean a yr or two without playoffs, but good for the long run, and more entertaining fast players.



That's essentially what they're doing. I don't know how anyone can knock the Allison and Lindros signings. They're no risk. Their contracts are small, and if things don't work out, they are gone next year and we have some more cap space. If they do work out, you've got incredible strength down the middle. And Allison is only 30, Lindros 32...they aren't old. In fact, I think Belfour is the only one over 35 on the team.

I also thought completely blowing the team up might be good as far as the future goes. But let's face it...you can ice a good team and still build for the future (NJ for example).

This year, the Leafs are a lot younger, and I think I like their team better than last year. I'll take O'Neill, Allison and Lindros over Niewendyk and Roberts etc. at this point, who are still good but too old and injury prone (yes, considering their age and injury problems, they're as much of a risk as Lindros and Allison - especially since they're to be relied upon as core players).

JFJ was smart not to hand out any long term contracts to 30 year old+ players...which is what most teams did.

He's set himself up well for next year, which I think will have a free agent crop just as good as this year (and probably younger too).

I just hope that this year, Coliacovo, Stajan, etc. get prominent roles.

I don't know, but as long as Toronto and Montreal lose, I am happy.

hahahaha you're just sore because your time have been raped too many times by them :D

Key aquisitions for each team this off-season:

Toronto: Jeff O'neill, maybe Jason Allison (lost Roberts, Nolan, Niewendyk, and maybe more players)

Ottawa: None.

Montreal: Resigned Kovalev, Mathieu Dandenault

Edmonton: Chris Pronger, Mike Peca,

Calgary: Resigned Jarome Iginla, Darren McCarty

Vancouver: Resigned Naslund.


I don't think Toronto will be winning for a long time now, they're screwed by the new salary cap and have lost many of their old talented players that have been with them for some time now. Toronto needs to get younger and more talented if they want to win again.

I see Calgary and Edomnton being the most improved.

I'm a hardcore Mapleleafs Fan but I'd have to say that Calgary currently has the best team...I wish they would have kept Gelinas but....whatever

Travis007 you forgot to mention that Calgary also acquired Tony Amonte from Philly.....I think that might change some peoples headz

Do Leafs fans really care all that much about bringing Lord Stanley's Cup home? For as long as I can remember, year after year, my friend keeps telling me "they'll win this year for sure" or something like that. He never loses faith or withdraws his support. I think those are the real fans, and the TML have a lot of 'em.

Do Leafs fans really care all that much about bringing Lord Stanley's Cup home? For as long as I can remember, year after year, my friend keeps telling me "they'll win this year for sure" or something like that. He never loses faith or withdraws his support. I think those are the real fans, and the TML have a lot of 'em.

I guess you can describe myself as that type of fan...The TML's are such a major part of the city's feel and when I think of Toronto...the first thing I think about is the Leafs...not the CN Tower, not the Skydome...but the Leafs...and that's how much I love the blue and white

Fans such as myself deserve to see the Cup come right where it belongs at least once in our lifetime

The Stanley Cup as two rightful resting places..Toronto and Montreal

but Toronto has grown into a more holy hockey city than any other city and it is only right that the CUP should be here

I already have it all planned for me. I'll be 82yrs old watching the Leafs god-knows how many attempts to get the Cup. Game 7, Overtime, Stanley Cup finals.

Off the centre ice Sundin Jr passes to Crosby Jr, pass the blue line, back to Sundin on a break away...he shoots....
This is about the point I get a heart attack...
....he scores....
I'll have the biggest goofiest smile a dead guy can ever have!

The Detroit Red Wings should have been an option up there, too, if you guys have the Buffalo Sabres. They are close to Canada (across the river from Windsor in Detroit), and there are a ton of Red Wings fans in Windsor, Ontario, although Windsor does have its share of Leafs fans as well, for three reasons, because they were either born/raised in the Toronto area, are students attending University of Windsor to study auto mechanics field, or because they are a TIE DOMI fan, who is a Windsor native.

But anyways, back to Canadian teams... right now I am pulling for Ottawa to be the best Canadian team to have a chance of winning the cup this year. Their team is about the same and they have a good calibre of players including Dominik Hasek, their new goalie! But the Flames should be good again this year, they are a fast, tough team with the helps of Jerome Iginla (who may be the most intense hockey player around today), and now the Canucks with Bertuzzi back in the lineup.

Those Canucks jerseys are AWESOME! I call them the "STICK C", because it is the letter C with a hockey stick.

I guess you can describe myself as that type of fan...The TML's are such a major part of the city's feel and when I think of Toronto...the first thing I think about is the Leafs...not the CN Tower, not the Skydome...but the Leafs...and that's how much I love the blue and white

Fans such as myself deserve to see the Cup come right where it belongs at least once in our lifetime

The Stanley Cup as two rightful resting places..Toronto and Montreal

but Toronto has grown into a more holy hockey city than any other city and it is only right that the CUP should be here


Montreal is understandable, but Toronto? yeah right, care to explain why you think this?

Montreal is understandable, but Toronto? yeah right, care to explain why you think this?

Let me guess...you think it should be Vancouver, right?

holiest place for Hockey was/is Montreal, i dont care what some dofus in toronto say, even if they have the hall of fame, it doesn't mean shit.

holiest place for Hockey was/is Montreal, i dont care what some dofus in toronto say, even if they have the hall of fame, it doesn't mean shit.

Sour grapes?

They live outside of Toronto and the GTA, it's natural.

Let me guess...you think it should be Vancouver, right?

When did i mention Vancouver, Vancouver is not even close to being hockeys holy place. You tell me how Toronto is the Stanley Cups rightful place other than the hall of fame being there?

I just voted for the Canucks I do like there chances. They are very solid in depth and goalies are better in age I hope Cloutier has a good year!

As much as i would like to see the leafs win (long time fan), i voted for the canucks just because they just have the beter team.

to answer the original question, The answer is easy. THe Habs baby!!!

Seriously, If I were to put money on a canadian team, I'd place it either on Vancouver or Ottawa.

People keep mentionning Calgary, but to tell you the truth, i doubt Calgary will make it past the Second round this year.

the team who loses in the Finals usually ends up having an off year the year after.

The Stanley Cup as two rightful resting places..Toronto and Montreal

Toronto has grown into a more holy hockey city than any other city and it is only right that the CUP should be here


You are wrong:

The Stanley Cup has only one resting place: Montreal

24 Stanley Cups isn't enough?

Well I guess what Toronto lacks in hockey we make up for in football, as the Argonauts will beat BC in their own house for the Grey Cup. As for the Leafs I always love how opposing fans of the team are so so quick to put them down, every chance they get. This team isn't that bad. I like Calgary and Vancouver to, but Toronto will be there come playoff time, and than I can hope for the best.

I think, that Oilers ...

Even though Toronto won't win the Stanley Cup this year I think they still have a decent team.

Mats Sundin is still here, along with Darcy Tucker which is a consistant 40-60 point guy. I think Matt Stajan and Nik Antropov have great potential. I don't see the loss of Mogilny (often injured in recent years), and Gary Roberts and Joe Niewenduk (old) such big loses.

Don't forget, Jason Allison had a couple of 80-90 point seasons before he had injury problems and Eric Lindros was a MVP type player before he had concussion probems. Jeff O'Neill was also a good signing. If these 3 stay healthy and produce Toronto could have a very exciting team to watch.

And about out defence woes.Brian Leetch only played with Toronto for a couple of months, so no huge lose there although he does have great skill. The core guys like Brian Mccabe, Ken Klee, Aki berg and tomas Kaberle. The only disappointment is that the Leafs were unable to sign a impact defenceman like Adrian Aucoin.

Hopefully some of the prospects like Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaaicovo can become join the Leafs and have impact.

But other than that the only canadian team I see having a great chance is Vancouver or Calgary. But Philly looks the most solid so far.

Haha, I vote for Buffalo!

...coughyeahrightcough